Cookbook:Fried Onion Blooms

| American cuisine | Vegetarian Cuisine | Appetizers

Ingredients

 * 2 huge onions, at least 4 inches (10 cm) across
 * Oil for frying
 * Beer batter
 * Seasoned flour
 * Sour cream chili sauce

Procedure

 * 1) Preheat deep fryer to 375°F (190°C).
 * 2) Put each onion on cutting board, root end down, and cut ¾ inch (2 cm) off the top.
 * 3) Peel onion.
 * 4) Cut vertically through the center, from the top to the root, without cutting through.
 * 5) Repeat cuts radially (across the center, like a clock face) for a total of 6 or 8 cuts.
 * 6) Remove about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of the onion center.
 * 7) Soak in ice water 15 minutes.
 * 8) Cut a little deeper if an onion isn't bloomed enough.
 * 9) Dip in seasoned flour and shake gently to remove excess.
 * 10) Dip in beer batter and shake gently to remove excess. You may have to separate layers to get a good coating.
 * 11) Handling carefully, lower into fryer using a fryer basket. Fry about a minute and a half.
 * 12) Remove basket from fryer, turn onions over, and return to fryer. Fry until golden, about another minute and a half.
 * 13) Drain on towel.
 * 14) Serve hot.

Notes, tips, and variations

 * Good with creamy chili sauce—put a small cup in the center of the onion where you took out the center.